Defensive Coordinator Mike Breske said Deone Bucannon's hit was too late, and that he talked with him about the tackle. (Photo: SWX)PULLMAN, Wash. -
Coaches at Washington State had no qualms about the Pac-12's decision to suspend defensive back Deone Bucannon. In fact, they said Tuesday the suspension serves as a good learning moment for the entire team.
The Pac-12 suspended Bucannon for half of Saturday's game at UNLV because of a late hit he leveled on Eastern Washington receiver Greg Herd. The hit was three steps late, high and brutally hard.
"It was a lot of steps before he hit him," said defensive coordinator Mike Breske. "That wasn't called for and we talked about that, and Coach Leach has visited to the whole team about – that we got to use common sense. That was a dumb penalty."
Bucannon, speaking in postgame interviews, said he tried to let up at the last second but his momentum carried him into Herd. Bucannon will be allowed, by the conference at least, to play in the second half Saturday in Las Vegas.
"I can see their point of view, it was a late hit," said Leach. "I can see where action was justified and, you know, we shouldn't have done it."
